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First number, last word

By
Tom SingerMLB.com

23: Players on the Pirates' 40-man roster -- those not yet eligible for arbitration -- who remain unsigned. The team will likely announce all the agreements at once. Players not reaching terms will be renewed; the deadline is unofficial, but the MLB likes all players under contract before games begin. For the Bucs, that is Tuesday, with the annual Black & Gold squad game.

"That's just so I feel better when I go back to the right side. Swinging only right-handed starts to pull on my back muscles, and this balances me out. It's like when you spin one way, you get real dizzy, and spinning the other way straightens you out." -- Russell Martin, a pure right-handed hitter, on switching to the left side for some turns in batting practice.

23: Players on the Pirates' 40-man roster -- those not yet eligible for arbitration -- who remain unsigned. The team will likely announce all the agreements at once. Players not reaching terms will be renewed; the deadline is unofficial, but the MLB likes all players under contract before games begin. For the Bucs, that is Tuesday, with the annual Black & Gold squad game.

"That's just so I feel better when I go back to the right side. Swinging only right-handed starts to pull on my back muscles, and this balances me out. It's like when you spin one way, you get real dizzy, and spinning the other way straightens you out." -- Russell Martin, a pure right-handed hitter, on switching to the left side for some turns in batting practice.